Are you convinced that financial fair play stands up legally?
Yes. Which company with €1.7bn losses every year can survive in the world? One day, it will explode. The time has gone when football could exist above the rules of life. It’s finished.
We had to do something, otherwise there would have been an explosion. In creating FFP, we protect the clubs, and we protect football, because with the losses that there were, we had to do something. When we have resolved the problem of the losses, perhaps we can work on investment. But it was my job to do that. Look how many clubs we have lost in the past years.
Isn’t it also the case that securing club finances can help make players less vulnerable to match-fixing?
Of course. It’s a question of ethics – it was my job as [UEFA] president to think about that.
When you have the moral high ground and ethics on your side, it’s always good, and it’s also always good when you can look at yourself in the mirror. I am a man of conviction, and I will always defend and fight on the basis of my convictions, and not for politics, because I think what I do, and then I do what I think.
Some countries are starting to introduce their own FFP rules, and we have seen clubs relegated in Spain for not paying their taxes. Your view?
It’s a good news that some countries are starting to introduce their own FFP rules. England did it, Spain too. It shows that we were right and there was a need to act. Clubs have to pay their players and their taxes too, it’s a must and it’s common sense.
Is this a delicate time for you within FIFA?
Please understand, that for the moment I don ́t comment on this issue.
A last question about Spain, where Angel Maria Villar has been president of the federation for 27 years. Is it good for someone to stay so long in the job?
He has been elected, no? He is elected by the people who trust him, so if he is elected by good people, you have to accept that. Spain won the World Cup and the EURO twice, Real Madrid and Barcelona win their competitions, and the football in Spain is very good.
Angel is a football person. I would never stay 27 years in a position, but he is elected. He was a young president. He was a player – I played against him. I will never stay as long as that, you can be sure, but it depends on him. There is no [term] limit.
If people are not happy, then they won’t vote for him. It’s democracy. If people don’t want him, they won’t vote for him anymore. But I think what has happened these last years with the Spanish National teams is good.
ESM interview with the UEFA President Best Player(s) in Europe Awards promotion
Date: 29/06/2015
Embargo: 15/07/2015
